Wartime experiences of Charles Hague — Part 2

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Roger Marsh of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Charles Hague, and has been added to the site with the author’s permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Wartime experiences of Charles Hague — Part 2
By
Charles Hague

I think it was November when we arrived at Deku Road. Usual accommodation, tents, but conditions much better. Transport to and from the depot every day. Work consisted of using native labour in gangs of ten to load and unload cargoes for various destinations. The main one was Calcutta, then transported for the troops in Burma. Had a pickup truck to take us to Poona at weekends which broke the monotony and was a welcome change.

Settled down better at Deku Road and enjoyed the trips into Poona at weekends. There was a British canteen in Poona which we visited regularly. I can't think of the name but it was named after a Viceroy of India's wife, Lady ??????? canteen.

Unfortunately, good times don't last long in the army! Another posting arrived for our squad to be sent to Gwalior - headquarters of the Chindits. This station is at sea level in Central India and this was in April, start of the summer. Well over 100 degrees F. Heard on our way to Gwalior that Major General Ord Wingate had been killed in a plane crash on return from Burma and that Major General Lentaigne took over command of the Chindits.

When we were called upon as non combat personnel we were dropping supplies from Dakota aircraft to the Chindits in Burma.

On arrival at headquarters we were dispatched to the 14th Infantry Brigade Workshops under the command of Major Threlfall. He told us we were no longer in the R.A.O.C. but in the R.E.M.E ( Royal Electrcal Mechanical Engineers). A few days later I was summoned to the Orderly room at Headquarters (which was owned by the Maharajah), a large hotel used to house guests of the Maharajah when the Polo season opened and other sports.

Back to the interview with Major C M Bussey in the Orderly room. He asked me how I would like a position in his office having read my credentials, I presume. I accepted the position which brought promotion etc. and I could see my buddies in the workshops who were not far away. My sleeping quarters were good. Brick built with thatch roofs. Little did I knew what lay ahead.
One pint of salt water was to be drunk before you sat down for lunch every day. The rise in temperature was unbelievable. We had a field bakery in the grounds of the hotel and I was told they had to ice the water down to tepid to bake the bread. You could get a good shave with water from the taps, it was so hot!

Temperatures were at times over 100 degrees in the shade. From getting up to going to bed, sweat simply poured out of your body. Then you would start with prickly heat (it felt like being stung with nettles). Remedy, camomile lotion!!!!! The shirts you wore lasted about 3 or 4 weeks. They turned white with the salt from your body and easily split. The Dhobi wallah didn't help either, knowing how they washed clothes.

By July things turned really serious. I collapsed in the Orderly room and was taken to the M.I. room. While there, they kept rubbing you down with ice and wrapping you up in blankets. The ambulance they had couldn't leave for the hospital in Jhansi until after sunset, due to the distance, 60 or 70 miles. They had a water tank fixed on front of the ambulance and this was turned on to help keep inside the ambulance cool while travelling. I'm not sure how long I was in hospital, probably 3 to 4 weeks.

On return to headquarters, I was told I was to go to a place in the foothills of the Himalayas, a place called Nani Tal, for a months convalescence. This was run by the Army. Nice, cool and refreshing up there. Enjoyed the conditions - apart from bugs and fleas. I was sorry to leave there, I'll never forget that journey up and down the mountainous country.
Arrived back in Gwalior okay and feeling much better. The illness I had was due to heat exhaustion.

It was great news to hear of the defeat of the NAZIS.

Another set back when I awoke the following morning, the left side of my face was swollen around the ear. The M.O sent me immediately to the hospital in Agra. As far as I can gather, it's possible I had been bitten by some insect. You can't get a lot out of these doctors. So here I was again in hospital and was beginning to get a little despondent to say the least. Don't know how long I was in hospital but the treatment I received certainly worked. I could see the Taj Mahal in the distance and was hoping I may get the opportunity to have a look around it. Unfortunately this was not to be. When discharged, transported straight back to headquarters in Gwalior.

Pr-BR

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